New Digital Health Platform Aims to Improve Patient Care and Support Goal of Universal Primary Care Access by 2029
TORONTO — The Ontario government has launched a competitive procurement process for a new provincewide Primary Care Medical Record (PCMR) system, a key component of its $3.4 billion Primary Care Action Plan aimed at ensuring every resident has access to a family doctor, nurse practitioner, or primary care team by 2029.
The procurement, led by Supply Ontario, will establish a Vendor of Record arrangement for the development and implementation of a unified digital medical record system designed to improve information sharing, reduce administrative burdens, and enhance patient care across the province.
The initiative represents one of the most significant digital health modernization efforts undertaken by Ontario in recent years and is intended to address long-standing challenges associated with fragmented patient records and disconnected health-care systems.
Province Seeks More Connected and Coordinated Health Care
New System to Integrate Patient Records Across Ontario
According to the Ministry of Health, the new Primary Care Medical Record system will allow physicians and other authorized health-care providers to securely create, access, and manage digital patient information, including medical histories, diagnoses, medications, and test results.
While approximately 90 per cent of Ontario family physicians currently use electronic medical records, those systems often operate independently of one another, creating barriers to seamless information sharing across the broader health-care network.
As a result, patients frequently face duplicated medical tests, repeated assessments, and the need to repeatedly provide their medical history when receiving care from different providers.
“Our government continues to deliver on our plan to connect every person in Ontario to a family doctor, nurse practitioner or primary care team by 2029,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Patients should never have to worry that important health information isn’t available when they need care. Once complete, the new provincewide Primary Care Medical Record system will securely connect patient information, reduce duplication and help health-care providers deliver faster, more connected and coordinated care.”
The government says the platform will strengthen privacy protections, improve continuity of care, and eliminate fees that patients sometimes incur when transferring medical records between providers.
Reducing Administrative Burden for Health-Care Providers
Clinicians Expected to Spend More Time with Patients
A major objective of the initiative is to streamline administrative processes for primary care professionals, allowing them to focus more time on patient care.
The province believes that providing clinicians with secure access to a more comprehensive view of a patient’s health history will improve decision-making and help deliver more coordinated treatment across different care settings.
“Primary care clinicians need modern tools that allow them to spend more time with patients and less time managing paperwork,” said Dr. Jane Philpott, Chair of the Primary Care Action Team. “A provincewide Primary Care Medical Record system will help reduce administrative burden, improve access to information and support better care for patients across Ontario.”
The Ministry of Health is collaborating closely with OntarioMD, a recognized leader in electronic medical record certification and implementation, to support the development and rollout of the system.
Interested vendors can now participate in the procurement process through the Ontario Tenders Portal.
Primary Care Action Plan Continues to Expand Access
Province Exceeds First-Year Targets
The procurement announcement comes as Ontario continues to advance its broader Primary Care Action Plan.
According to the province, more than 400,000 Ontarians have been connected to primary care since the strategy was introduced, surpassing the government’s first-year target of 300,000 people.
Ontario officials maintain that nearly 90 per cent of residents already have access to primary care, one of the highest rates in Canada. The government’s objective is to close the remaining gaps and ensure universal access by 2029.
As part of the 2026-27 call for proposals under the Primary Care Action Plan, 124 successful applicants will receive funding to establish new or expanded primary care teams. These teams are expected to connect an additional 500,000 patients to primary care services across the province, including individuals currently waiting through Health Care Connect.
Interprofessional primary care teams bring together a range of health professionals under one roof, including family physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, physician assistants, midwives, physiotherapists, social workers, dietitians, and pharmacists.
Supply Ontario Highlights Importance of Modernization
Digital Infrastructure Seen as Foundation for Future Care
Supply Ontario CEO Jamie Wallace described the procurement process as a significant milestone in the province’s efforts to modernize health-care delivery.
“This initiative marks an important milestone in Ontario’s transformative efforts to modernize primary care. By leading this procurement process, Supply Ontario is helping lay the foundation for a more connected and efficient primary care system. Through the work the Ministry of Health and our other partners, we are enabling better access to innovative solutions that will support clinicians, improve the patient experience and ensure better patient outcomes across Ontario.”
The province says the new medical record system will play a central role in supporting connected, convenient, and patient-focused care as Ontario continues to expand its health-care workforce and strengthen access to services closer to home.